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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Federal officials pledged more money yesterday to help California cope with
its severe drought as state fishing regulators shut down recreational angling on portions of two
water-starved rivers because of concerns about the survival of salmon and steelhead trout.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Natural Resources Conservation Service announced an
additional $14 million for water-management improvements in the state, a day after Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack committed $20 million.

The aid was announced as the U.S. House passed a bill supported by Speaker John Boehner and
Central Valley Republicans that temporarily would halt restoration of the San Joaquin River and
allow farmers to pump delta water more freely.

The bill rankled environmentalists and many across the aisle, including Democratic House
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

“This Republican bill reflects misguided priorities, undermines California’s water rights, and
overrides the state’s ability to manage its own water supplies,” Pelosi said in a statement.

Meanwhile, California’s Fish and Game Commission continued banning fishing on drought-stricken
state waterways.

The panel voted unanimously to abolish fishing on parts of the American and Russian rivers after
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed dozens of others last month.

The closures on both rivers will extend through April 30.

Numerous fishing groups voiced support for the closures.

Lowell Ashbaugh, a fly fisherman from Davis, said he hated having to close a river to fishing,
but that it was for the greater good.

“The conservation of the river is very important,” he told the commission. “If we don’t have the
fish, we don’t have the fishing.”